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What Sign Making Material Is Right For You?

Posted by Heat Transfer Warehouse on Oct 23rd 2019

What Sign Making Material Is Right For You?

Welcome to the Sign Making Materials (Sign Vinyl - Wall Vinyl) mini-guide. Our experts have weighed in on how to choose the right sign-making product for you. Let the creating begin!

We couldn't include everything in here (it would be way too long). Plus, we disregard all printable and custom products here. But, hopefully this can help you on where to start!

Each product is linked to our website. For more information and application instructions, simply just click the product link!

Some products are also linked to the manufacturer website for more technical information.


Standard Sign Vinyl-Mask

FDC Sign Vinyl

This is offered in both a 12 inch and 15 inch width. The color selection is almost identical between both widths. It is perfect for creating designs on windows, glass, car graphics and much more!

  • Face Film: 3.0 mil thick (76.2 microns), high gloss, intermediate calendared vinyl film
  • Adhesive: Aggressive, acrylic, permanent, pressure-sensitive. Not to be used with solvent based application fluids.
  • Outdoor Durability/Life Expectancy (based on accepted application procedures on vertical surfaces): 6 years
  • Minimum Application Temperature: 35° F.
  • Application Surface: Interior and exterior markings and decals
  • Temperature Resistance Range: 50-150°F - which is a reasonable range of temperatures to be expected under normal environmental time and temperature conditions.
  • Opacity: Normal
  • Chemical Resistance: Good for most petroleum solvents and lower aliphatic alcohols. For ultimate solvent resistance, edge sealing is recommended.
  • Water Resistance: Excellent: A test piece was adhered to stainless steel. It was not affected when immersed in 70°F water for 7 days.
  • Shelf Life: 2 years when stored under conditions of 70°F and 50% relative humidity.

Oracal 651 Sign Vinyl

This is offered in 12 inch width. It's available in 60 vivid colors plus transparent, matte white and matte black. It features a custom silicone-coated paper with special release characteristics that provide excellent weeding and release values.

  • Face Film: 2.5 mil thick (63.5 microns), intermediate calendered PVC film
  • Adhesive: Clear, solvent-based, permanent adhesive
  • Dimensional Stability: Excellent dimensional stability and very good cutting and application characteristics. A test piece was adhered to steel with no shrinkage in cross direction
  • Minimum Durability/Life Expectancy (based on accepted application procedures on vertical surfaces): 6 years - colors/transparent/black and white; 4 years - metallic; 3 years – brilliant blue
  • Minimum Application Temperature: 46°F
  • Application Surface: Medium-term indoor and outdoor lettering, marking and decoration
  • Temperature Resistance Range: Adhered to aluminum in -40°F to +176°F with no variation. Exceeds a reasonable range of temperatures to be expected under normal environmental time and temperature conditions.
  • Water Resistance: Adhered to aluminum - after 100h/73°F no variation
  • Shelf Life: 2 years when stored under conditions of 68°F and 50% relative humidity.
  • Print Compatibility: Thermal Transfer (gloss finish only)

Check out this product video:

Oracal 651 Sign Vinyl video thumbnail

FDC Neon Sign Viny

This is offered in 15 inch width. It's available in 4 bright, attention-grabbing colors: Magenta, Orange, Yellow, and Green. This product has a very short outdoor durability of 3 to 6 months. The fluorescent pigments will fade with UV exposure.

Wall/Temporary Vinyl

This is offered in 12 inch width. Available in 11 colors, including a silver metallic. Perfect for creating decorative wall decor or applying temporary vehicle graphics, as it will adhere to windows, windshields, etc.

  • Features a grid-marked liner for easy alignment
  • 3 mils thick (76.2 microns)
  • Matte finish
  • Outdoor durability of 3 years

Oracal 631 Wall Vinyl

This is offered in 12 inch width. It's available in 63 colors! Perfect for any short-term application such as wall art or home decor.

  • 3 mils thick (76.2 microns)
  • Matte finish
  • Indoor durability of 3 years for all colors
  • **Not recommended for vehicle graphics**

Metallic / Glitter

PSG Textured Glitter

  • Many people think this is a HTV.... but this is not a heat transfer vinyl!
  • For hard surface application only!
  • Consists of real glitter flakes encased in polyurethane
  • Pressure sensitive
  • Used to create decals, labels and name tags for hard surfaces
  • Ideal for gifts and specialty items
  • Recommend cutting in solid graphics
  • No Transfer Tape is needed as it is a hand peel recommended material
  • Not recommended for outdoor use

Check out this product video:

PSG Textured Glitter video thumbnail


Chrome

We offer Chrome Sign Vinyl by FDC in 15 inch width in 2 colors:

  • Gold
    • 6 month outdoor durability
  • Silver
    • 2 year outdoor durability

Carbon Fiber

  • A product of FDC
  • Not recommended for outdoor use!
  • 15 inch width

Reflective

  • Engineering grade
  • Is a glass beaded retro-reflective vinyl film that renders excellent reflectivity at night.
  • Can be used over rivets and corrugations
  • Used for flat and simple curves
  • 7 year outdoor durability
  • 15 inch width